Summary:
In June, 1863, General Isaac Trimble traveled to Staunton to take command of
Confederate forces in the Shenandoah Valley. In this letter, Lee writes Trimble,
advising him of present orders and locations of cavalry units in the Valley.
Maj. Gen. Isaac R. Trimble,
Comdg., &c.:
June 7, 1863.
Gen.:
I have directed Gen. Imboden to leave a guard at Shenandoah Mountain, and move with the rest of his effective force upon Romney. I have also directed Gen. A. G. Jenkins to concentrate his command near Strasburg or Front Royal, or any more convenient point in advance of either. Gen. Jenkins will receive subsequent orders as regards his operations in the Valley. Not knowing whether you have yet reached Staunton, I have sent these orders direct to those officers, but should you have assumed command of the Valley District, I beg you to facilitate their execution.
I have sent no special directions concerning the Maryland troops in the Valley, but if they can be serviceable with Gen. Jenkins, they had better operate with him, or, at least, be so disposed as to guard the approaches up the Valley while Gen. Jenkins is operating below. Should you have entered upon your duties in the Valley, and your health be sufficiently restored, you are, of course, at liberty to accompany the troops, and take part in their operations.
Most respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 27, Serial No. 45, Pages 867, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
